Germany, Poland and Ukraine signed an agreement on Friday (April 21) for a hub to repair Leopard tanks used in Ukraine to fight Russian forces, Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said at a meeting of allies at the Ramstein air base.
"Every piece of equipment that is supplied in this war, whether tanks or combat support tanks and other equipment such as howitzers or Patriot systems, is subject to wear and tear, especially when they are in continuous use in combat," Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday at the Ramstein air base.
"That is why I am very pleased that together with my Polish colleague and my Ukrainian colleague Oleksij I was able to sign a Memorandum of Understanding today. It states that we will set up a joint maintenance hub in Poland for the entire Leopard 2 fleet, i.e. the two A4s and the two A6s," he added.
All parties agreed on how to finance such a hub, which costs around 150-200 million euros ($384 million) a year and could begin operations at the end of May, Pistorius told reporters.
"It shows our determination to endure. Putin cannot stall for time. We will persevere," the German minister stressed.
Asked about Ukraine's prospects to join the NATO alliance, Pistorius said all members agreed that they saw Ukraine as a future member but said the focus now had to be on supporting Ukraine on the battlefield.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, Reuters